Optical fiber inspecting device, optical fiber manufacturing apparatus, method for inspecting optical fiber, and method for manufacturing optical fiber

ABSTRACT

An optical fiber inspecting device is disclosed. The optical fiber inspecting device includes a first light-emitting unit that irradiates an optical fiber with a first light beam, the optical fiber including a glass fiber and a coating resin and moving in an axial direction, and a first light-receiving unit that receives scattered light resulting from the first light beam scattered in the optical fiber, and converts the scattered light to an electrical signal. An optical axis of the first light-receiving unit passes through an irradiation position where the first light beam strikes the optical fiber, and the first light beam and the optical axis of the first light-receiving unit diagonally intersect each other, thereby preventing the first light beam from directly entering the first light-receiving unit.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an optical fiber inspecting device, anoptical fiber manufacturing apparatus, a method for inspecting anoptical fiber, and a method for manufacturing an optical fiber. Thisapplication claims the benefit of priority from Japanese PatentApplication No. 2016-059943, filed on Mar. 24, 2016; the entire contentsof which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND ART

Patent Literature 1 discloses a method and device for measuring thediameter and/or degree of eccentricity of the coating layer of a coatedoptical fiber. With the method and device, a coated optical fiber isirradiated with the luminous flux emitted from a light source along adirection generally perpendicular to the axial direction of the coatedoptical fiber, and the luminous flux is received by a photosensor thatfaces the light source and is disposed generally perpendicularly to theaxial direction of the coated optical fiber. The diameter and/or degreeof eccentricity of a primary coating layer of the coated optical fiberis determined by analyzing an image formed by the photosensor.

CITATION LIST Patent Literature

Patent Literature 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No.2001-215169

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

An optical fiber inspecting device of the present disclosure comprises:a light-emitting unit that irradiates an optical fiber with a lightbeam, the optical fiber including a glass fiber and a coating resin andmoving in an axial direction; and a light-receiving unit that receiveslight scattered in the optical fiber, and converts the scattered lightto an electrical signal. An optical axis of the light-receiving unitpasses through an irradiation position where the light beam strikes theoptical fiber, and the light beam and the optical axis of thelight-receiving unit diagonally intersect each other, thereby preventingthe light beam from directly entering the light-receiving unit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of an optical fiber manufacturingapparatus according to one embodiment.

FIG. 2A is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a typicaloptical fiber.

FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of anoptical fiber according to one embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a process for manufacturing a typicaloptical fiber.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a process for manufacturing an optical fiberaccording to one embodiment.

FIG. 5 shows the configuration of an air bubble sensor according to oneembodiment.

FIG. 6A is a diagram for explaining the acts of the air bubble sensor.

FIG. 6B is a diagram for explaining the acts of the air bubble sensor.

FIG. 7A is a diagram for explaining a problem that arises when asecondary resin layer is colored.

FIG. 7B is a diagram for explaining a problem that arises when thesecondary resin layer is colored.

FIG. 8 schematically shows the configuration of an air bubble sensoraccording to one modification and shows the air bubble sensor seen alongthe axial direction of the optical fiber.

FIG. 9 schematically shows the configuration of an air bubble sensoraccording to one modification and shows the air bubble sensor seen alonga direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the optical fiber.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing signal waveforms which result from airbubbles etc. and are generated in the respective light-receiving unitsby irradiation of the respective irradiation positions with light beams.

FIG. 11A is a diagram showing the irradiation of the optical fiber witha light beam in the case where one pair of a light-emitting unit and alight-receiving unit is used.

FIG. 11B is a diagram showing the irradiation of the optical fiber witha light beam in the case where two pairs of light-emitting units andlight-receiving units are used.

FIG. 11C is a diagram showing the irradiation of the optical fiber witha light beam in the case where three pairs of light-emitting units andlight-receiving units are used.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Problems to be Solved by the Disclosure

To manufacture an optical fiber, a glass fiber containing a core and acladding is first drawn from a glass preform, and a coating resin isapplied to the outer surface of the glass fiber and is then cured. Ifair bubbles or voids (hereinafter referred to as air bubbles etc.) areformed in the glass fiber or coating resin in such a step, theoptical-transmission properties of the optical fiber deteriorate. Forthis reason, whether air bubbles etc. are formed in the optical fiber isinspected in some cases. This inspection can be conducted in the middleof the production line of the optical fiber which moves in the drawingdirection (axial direction).

In the device and method described in Patent Literature 1, a luminousflux is emitted along a direction perpendicular to the axial directionof the optical fiber, and the luminous flux that has passed through theoptical fiber is detected. However, light scattering caused by airbubbles etc. is inconsiderable as compared with the light intensity of aluminous flux; thus, it is difficult to detect air bubbles etc.accurately with the device and method.

Advantageous Effects of Disclosure

According to this disclosure, the air bubbles etc. formed in a glassfiber or coating resin are accurately detectable.

Description of Embodiments of Invention

First, the details of embodiments of the present invention will belisted and described. An optical fiber inspecting device according toone embodiment of the present invention comprises: a firstlight-emitting unit that irradiates an optical fiber with a first lightbeam, the optical fiber including a glass fiber and a coating resin andmoving in an axial direction; and a first light-receiving unit thatreceives scattered light resulting from the first light beam scatteredin the optical fiber, and converts the scattered light to an electricalsignal. An optical axis of the first light-receiving unit passes throughan irradiation position where the first light beam strikes the opticalfiber, and the first light beam and the optical axis of the firstlight-receiving unit diagonally intersect each other, thereby preventingthe first light beam from directly entering the first light-receivingunit.

In this optical fiber inspecting device, the optical fiber is firstirradiated with the first light beam. If no air bubbles etc. are formedin the glass fiber or coating resin of the optical fiber, the firstlight beam is not scattered and passes through the optical fiber. At thetime, the first light beam and the optical axis of the firstlight-receiving unit diagonally intersect each other in the opticalfiber, and therefore the first light beam is prevented from directlyentering the first light-receiving unit, so that the firstlight-receiving unit barely detects light. In contrast, if there are airbubbles etc. in the glass fiber or the coating resin of the opticalfiber, the first light beam is scattered and the scattered light entersthe first light-receiving unit. Accordingly, in this optical fiberinspecting device, compared with, for example, the configuration shownin Patent Literature 1, the rate of change in the amount of lightincident on the light-receiving unit increases when air bubbles etc. areformed in the glass fiber or coating resin, allowing the air bubblesetc. to be accurately detected.

The above-described optical fiber inspecting device further maycomprise: a second light-emitting unit that irradiates the optical fiberwith a second light beam; and a second light-receiving unit thatreceives scattered light resulting from the second light beam scatteredin the optical fiber, and converts the scattered light to an electricalsignal. An optical axis of the second light-receiving unit may passthrough an irradiation position where the second light beam strikes theoptical fiber, and the second light beam and the optical axis of thesecond light-receiving unit may diagonally intersect each other, therebypreventing the second light beam from directly entering the secondlight-receiving unit. A position irradiated with the first light beamfrom the first light-emitting unit and a position irradiated with thesecond light beam from the second light-emitting unit may be differenteach other along the axial direction of the optical fiber. Thus, theentry of scattered light resulting from any of the light beams travelingfrom the light-emitting units to a light-receiving unit not paired withthe light-emitting unit (crosstalk) can be inhibited, and the signalwaveform based on air bubbles etc. can be accurately generated in eachlight-receiving unit.

The above-described optical fiber inspecting device may furthercomprise: a third light-emitting unit that irradiates the optical fiberwith a third light beam; and a third light-receiving unit that receivesscattered light resulting from the third light beam scattered in theoptical fiber, and converts the scattered light to an electrical signal.An optical axis of the third light-receiving unit may pass through anirradiation position where the third light beam strikes the opticalfiber, and the third light beam and the optical axis of the thirdlight-receiving unit may diagonally intersect each other, therebypreventing the third light beam from directly entering the thirdlight-receiving unit. Output wavelengths of the first light beam and thethird light beam may be different each other, and each of the firstlight-receiving unit and the third light-receiving unit may include awavelength filter transmitting an output wavelength of the correspondinglight-emitting unit and blocking an output wavelength of the otherlight-emitting unit. Thus, the detection of scattered light or straylight resulting from any of the light beams traveling from thelight-emitting units in the light-receiving unit in a pair with awavelength different from that of the pair that the correspondinglight-emitting unit belongs to (crosstalk) can be inhibited, and thesignal waveform based on air bubbles etc. can be accurately generated ineach light-receiving unit.

In the above-described optical fiber inspecting device may furthercomprise: a fourth light-emitting unit that irradiates the optical fiberwith a fourth light beam; and a fourth light-receiving unit thatreceives scattered light resulting from the fourth light beam scatteredin the optical fiber, and converts the scattered light to an electricalsignal. An optical axis of the fourth light-receiving unit may passthrough an irradiation position where the fourth light beam strikes theoptical fiber, and the fourth light beam and the optical axis of thefourth light-receiving unit may diagonally intersect each other, therebypreventing the fourth light beam from directly entering the fourthlight-receiving unit. A position of the first light-emitting unit and aposition of the fourth light-emitting unit with respect to the opticalfiber along a circumferential direction may be different each other.Thus, reliable detection of air bubbles etc. can be achievedindependently of the positions where the air bubbles etc. are formed ina face perpendicular to the axial direction of the optical fiber. Thisoptical fiber inspecting device may comprise: a fifth light-emittingunit that irradiates the optical fiber with a fifth light beam; and afifth light-receiving unit that receives scattered light resulting fromthe fifth light beam scattered in the optical fiber, and converts thescattered light to an electrical signal. An optical axis of the fifthlight-receiving unit may pass through an irradiation position where thefifth light beam strikes the optical fiber, and the fifth light beam andthe optical axis of the fifth light-receiving unit may diagonallyintersect each other, thereby preventing the light beam from directlyentering the fifth light-receiving unit. A position of the firstlight-emitting unit, a position of the fourth light-emitting unit, and aposition of the fifth light-emitting unit with respect to the opticalfiber along a circumferential direction may be different each other. Inthis case, reliable detection of air bubbles etc. can be achieved in aface perpendicular to the axial direction of the optical fiber.

The above-described optical fiber inspecting device may further comprisea computing unit that synthesizes signal waveforms of the electricalsignals from the plurality of light-receiving units. If there are airbubbles etc. in the glass fiber or the coating resin, the amount ofincident light due to the air bubbles etc. changes in the plurality oflight-receiving units. Accordingly, the noise component due to straylight and the like is equalized by synthesizing the signal waveforms ofthe electrical signals from the plurality of light-receiving units.Accordingly, the S/N ratio can be improved and air bubbles etc. can bedetected more accurately.

In the above-described optical fiber inspecting device, each light beamand the optical axis of the light-receiving unit corresponding to thatlight beam may intersect each other at an angle in a range of 131° to135°. According to the knowledge of the inventors, since the light beamand the optical axis of the light-receiving unit form such an angle, thedirect incidence of the light beam on the light-receiving unit can beavoided and the efficiency of incidence of scattered light through airbubbles etc. can be made approximate to the maximum value.

In the above-described optical fiber inspecting device, an outputwavelength of light emitted from each light-emitting unit may correspondto non-visible light. In particular, an output wavelength of lightemitted from each light-emitting unit may correspond to infrared light(e.g., a wavelength in a range of 1000 to 2000 nm) or ultraviolet light(e.g., a wavelength in a range of 250 to 400 nm). Thus, even when thecoating resin contains a pigment, the S/N ratio can be increased and airbubbles etc. can be accurately detected.

An optical fiber manufacturing apparatus according to one embodiment ofthe present invention comprises: a drawing furnace that draws a glassfiber from a glass preform; a resin coating unit that coats the glassfiber with a primary resin and a secondary resin; a resin curing unitthat cures the primary resin and the secondary resin; and theabove-described optical fiber inspecting device (with the light-emittingunits having an output wavelength of non-visible light) that inspects anoptical fiber extending from the resin curing unit. In this opticalfiber manufacturing apparatus, the air bubbles etc. formed in the glassfiber or coating resin can be accurately detected.

The present invention relates to a method for inspecting an opticalfiber, as another embodiment. This optical fiber inspecting methodcomprises: a step of irradiating the optical fiber with the first lightbeam by using the first light-emitting unit of any of theabove-described optical fiber inspecting devices, the optical fiberincluding a glass fiber and a coating resin and moving in an axialdirection; a step of receiving scattered light resulting from the firstlight beam scattered in the optical fiber, and converting the receivedscattered light to an electrical signal, by using the firstlight-receiving unit of the optical fiber inspecting device; and a stepof measuring presence of air bubbles or an internal existing rate of airbubbles in the optical fiber by comparing the electrical signalindicating the amount of incident light on the first light-receivingunit or a rate of change in the amount of the incident light with apredetermined threshold. The present invention further relates to amethod for manufacturing an optical fiber, as another embodiment. Thisoptical fiber manufacturing method comprises: a step of drawing a glassfiber from a glass preform; a step of coating the glass fiber with aprimary resin and a secondary resin; a step of curing the primary resinand the secondary resin; and a step of inspecting an optical fiber wherethe resin is cured and the fiber is extended, by using any of theabove-described optical fiber inspecting devices; and a step of windingup the optical fiber. According to these methods, air bubbles etc.formed in the glass fiber or coating resin can be accurately detected oran optical fiber can be manufactured with the accurate detection.

Details of Embodiments of Invention

Examples of an optical fiber inspecting device, an optical fibermanufacturing apparatus, a method for inspecting an optical fiber, and amethod for manufacturing an optical fiber according to embodiments ofthe present invention will now be described with reference to theaccompanying drawings. The scope of the invention should not be limitedby these examples and should be defined by claims, and equivalents andall modifications of claims should be included in the scope of theinvention. In the description below, when drawings are explained, thesame components are denoted by the same reference numeral andoverlapping description will be omitted.

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of an optical fiber manufacturingapparatus 1A according to this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, theoptical fiber manufacturing apparatus 1A is a device for manufacturingan optical fiber F which includes a glass fiber F11 containing a coreand a cladding, and a coating resin. The optical fiber manufacturingapparatus 1A includes, in sequence along the flow path of the glassfiber F11 and the optical fiber F, a drawing furnace 11, a forcedcooling device 12, an outer diameter measuring device 13, a first resincoating unit 14, a second resin coating unit 15, an uneven thicknessmeasuring device 16, a UV furnace 17, an outer diameter measuring device18, an air bubble sensor (optical fiber inspecting device) 19, guiderollers 20, a capstan 21, and a wind-up bobbin 22.

In the optical fiber manufacturing apparatus 1A, the direction in whichthe optical fiber F travels in early stages is set to the verticaldirection, and in the stages located downstream from the guide roller 20below the air bubble sensor 19, the direction in which the optical fiberF travels is set to the horizontal direction or a slanting direction.The drawing furnace 11 draws a preform(glass preform) 10 mainly composedof quartz glass, thereby forming the glass fiber F11 containing a coreand a cladding. The drawing furnace 11 includes a heater disposed onboth sides of (or surrounding) the preform 10 set in the drawing furnace11. The preform 10 has an end that is heated with the heater, is fused,and is drawn to be the glass fiber F11. The drawn glass fiber F11 movesalong a predetermined travelling direction.

The forced cooling device 12 cools the drawn glass fiber F11. The forcedcooling device 12 has a length long enough to adequately cool the glassfiber F11, along the predetermined travelling direction. The forcedcooling device 12 has, for example, an intake port and an exhaust port,which are not shown in the drawing, for cooling the glass fiber F11, andcools the glass fiber F11 by introducing cooling gas from the intakeport and the exhaust port.

The outer diameter measuring device 13 measures the outer diameter ofthe glass fiber F11 after cooling. For example, the outer diametermeasuring device 13 irradiates the glass fiber F11 with a luminous fluxand picks up an image of the luminous flux that has passed through theglass fiber F11, thereby measuring the outer diameter of the glass fiberF11.

The resin coating units 14 and 15 coat the glass fiber F11 with a resin.Two kinds of liquid resins which are curable with ultraviolet rays areheld in the resin coating units 14 and 15, and the glass fiber F11passes through the resin in the resin coating units 14 and 15, therebyallowing an inner-layer resin (primary resin 14A) and an outer-layerresin (secondary resin 15A) to be coated on the surface of the glassfiber F11 in this order.

The uneven thickness measuring device 16 measures the center deviationof the glass fiber F11 with respect to the optical fiber F. For example,the uneven thickness measuring device 16 irradiates the optical fiber Fwith a luminous flux and picks up an image of the luminous flux that haspassed through the optical fiber F, thereby measuring the centerdeviation.

The UV furnace 17 is a resin curing unit that irradiates the two kindsof resins (the primary resin and secondary resin) coated on the surfaceof the glass fiber F11 with ultraviolet rays and thus cures them. Theglass fiber F11 with two kinds of resins on its surface passes throughthe UV furnace 17, forming the optical fiber F which has the glass fiberF11 and a coating layer consisting of two layers.

The outer diameter measuring device 18 measures the outer diameter ofthe optical fiber F which is prepared by coating the glass fiber F11with the resins. The outer diameter is measured by the same method asthat for the outer diameter measuring device 13.

The air bubble sensor 19 is an optical fiber inspecting device in thisembodiment that inspects the optical fiber F extending from a UV furnace17D and detects air bubbles and voids (hereinafter referred to as airbubbles etc.) formed in the glass fiber F11 or coating resin. Asdescribed below, the air bubble sensor 19 irradiates the optical fiber Fwith a light beam and detects the light scattered by the air bubblesetc., thereby detecting the existence of air bubbles etc. (e.g., thepresence of air bubbles or the internal existing rate of air bubbles).

The guide roller 20 guides the optical fiber F so that the optical fiberF can move along a predetermined travelling direction. The travellingdirection of the optical fiber F is changed by the guide rollers 20, andthe optical fiber F is received by the capstan 21 and is then sent tothe wind-up bobbin 22. The wind-up bobbin 22 winds up the completedoptical fiber F.

In this embodiment, the secondary resin 15A may be colored with an agentincluding a pigment or dye. In that case, unlike a typical opticalfiber, the manufactured optical fiber F does not include a colored layeron a secondary resin layer. FIG. 2A is a cross-sectional view showingthe configuration of an optical fiber FA including a colored layer 36.As shown in FIG. 2A, the typical optical fiber FA includes a glass fiberF11 containing a core 31 and a cladding 32, and a coating resin 33Aprovided around the glass fiber F11. The coating resin 33A consists of aprimary resin layer 34, a secondary resin layer 35A, and the coloredlayer 36. In contrast, as shown in FIG. 2B, the optical fiber F in whichthe secondary resin layer is colored includes the glass fiber F11 and acoating resin 33B provided around the glass fiber F11. The coating resin33B consists of the primary resin layer 34 and a secondary resin layer35B which is colored.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a process for manufacturing the opticalfiber FA including a colored layer. As shown in the drawing, a glasspreform is drawn to form the glass fiber F11 (Step S11) which is thencoated with the primary resin and the secondary resin (Step S12) andthen coated with an ink resin for coloring (Step S13). Meanwhile, FIG. 4is a diagram showing a process for manufacturing the optical fiber F inwhich the secondary layer is colored. In the manufacturing process shownin the drawing, the coloring step S13 is omitted unlike the processchart of FIG. 3. Thus, the number of manufacturing steps can be reducedby coloring the secondary resin layer to omit the colored layer.

FIG. 5 shows the configuration of the air bubble sensor 19 of thisembodiment. As shown in FIG. 5, the air bubble sensor 19 includes alight-emitting unit 23, a light-receiving unit 24, an amplifier circuit25, and a signal-processing unit 26. The light-emitting unit 23irradiates the optical fiber F, which moves in the axial direction, witha light beam B. The output wavelength of the light-emitting unit 23corresponds to non-visible light, more appropriately, infrared light(e.g., near-infrared light) or ultraviolet light. In one example, theoutput wavelength of light emitted from the light-emitting unit 23 maybe in a range of 1.0 to 2.0 μm or in a range of 1.3 to 1.6 μm. When theoutput wavelength is in a range of 1.0 to 1.6 μm, the light-emittingunit 23 can be composed of, for example, a laser diode. When the outputwavelength is around 2.0 μm, the light-emitting unit 23 can be composedof, for example, a thulium-added fiber laser.

The light-receiving unit 24 receives light L scattered in the opticalfiber F and converts the scattered light L into an electrical signal.This scattering is caused by air bubbles etc. formed in the glass fiberF11 or coating resin of the optical fiber F. The light-receiving unit 24includes a photosensor 24 a, a lens 24 b, and a housing 24 c foraccommodating them. The photosensor 24 a is disposed on the principalaxis of the lens 24 b, i.e., the axis of rotation symmetry, andconstitutes an optical axis AX of the light-receiving unit 24. Thisoptical axis AX passes an irradiation position P where the light beam Bstrikes the optical fiber F. The light L that has entered thelight-receiving unit 24 is condensed by the lens 24 b and condenses tothe photosensor 24 a. The photosensor 24 a is, for example, a photodiodecomposed of Si, Ge, or InGaAs, for example. A wave filter 27 may beinstalled between the lens 24 b and the photosensor 24 a.

The light beam B diagonally intersects the optical axis AX of thelight-receiving unit 24. This prevents the light beam B from directlyentering the light-receiving unit 24 (i.e., the light beam B fromentering the lens 24 b). In one example, an angle θ between the lightbeam B and the optical axis AX of the light-receiving unit 24 is 131° to135°. In another example, the angle between the light beam B and theoptical fiber F is 41° to 45°, and the optical fiber F and the opticalaxis AX are perpendicular to each other. The housing 24 c of thelight-receiving unit 24 may have a hood 24 d for adequate avoidance ofincidence of the light beam B or other stray light. The hood 24 d is ahollow circular truncated cone which covers the periphery of the opticalaxis AX, and leads only the incident light from the opening formed at oraround its top, to the lens 24 b. The apical angle of the hood 24 d in across-section including the optical axis AX is determined according tothe numerical aperture of the lens 24 b.

The advantageous effects obtained through the air bubble sensor 19 andthe optical fiber manufacturing apparatus 1A of this embodimentdescribed above will be described with reference to FIGS. 6A and 6B. Inthis air bubble sensor 19, the optical fiber F is first irradiated withthe light beam B. As shown in FIG. 6A, if there are no air bubbles etc.in the glass fiber F11 or coating resin 33B of the optical fiber F, thelight beam B passes through the optical fiber F without being scattered.At the time, as shown in FIG. 5, the light beam B and the optical axisAX of the light-receiving unit 24 diagonally intersect each other in theoptical fiber F, and the light beam B is prevented from directlyentering the light-receiving unit 24, so that the light-receiving unit24 barely detects light. In contrast, as shown in FIG. 6B, if there areair bubbles etc. D in the glass fiber F11 or the coating resin 33B, thelight beam B is scattered and the scattered light L enters thelight-receiving unit 24. Accordingly, in this air bubble sensor 19,unlike the configuration described, for example, in Patent Literature 1,the rate of change in the amount of light that is incident on thelight-receiving unit 24 when the air bubbles etc. D are formed in theglass fiber F11 or the coating resin 33B increases, so that the airbubbles etc. D can be accurately detected. To be specific, for example,comparison is performed between the amount of scattered light L incidenton the light-receiving unit 24 or the rate of change in it (e.g., anelectrical signal) and a predetermined threshold set up in advance, byusing the optical fiber manufacturing apparatus 1A (the air bubblesensor 19); thus, the presence of the air bubbles etc. D, the internalexisting rate of the air bubbles etc. D, and the like can be accuratelydetected. Note that the internal existing rate of the air bubbles etc. D(the amount of air bubbles) can be measured based on the number of timesof determination of air bubbles per unit time (e.g., the number of timeswhen the threshold is exceeded).

As described above, the angle between the light beam B and the opticalaxis AX of the light-receiving unit 24 may be 131° to 135° in theoptical fiber F. According to the knowledge of the inventors, since thelight beam B and the optical axis AX of the light-receiving unit 24 formsuch an angle, the incidence of the light beam B on the light-receivingunit 24 is avoided and the efficiency of incidence of scattered lightthrough air bubbles etc. can be made approximate to the maximum value,thereby improving the S/N ratio.

The problems that arise in the case where the secondary resin layer 35Bis colored will now be described with reference to FIGS. 7A and 7B. Inthe case where the secondary resin layer 35B is colored with a pigment,upon irradiation with the light beam B, the light beam B may strike apigment C contained in the secondary resin layer 35B and may bescattered as shown in FIG. 7A. Scattered light L2 then partially entersthe light-receiving unit 24. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 7B, evenin the case where the air bubbles etc. D are formed in the glass fiberF11 or the coating resin 33B, the scattered light L2 from the secondaryresin layer 35B enters the light-receiving unit 24 concurrently with thescattered light L resulting from the air bubbles etc. D, so that the S/Nratio deteriorates, which may make it difficult to detect the airbubbles etc. D.

In the case where the secondary resin layer 35B is colored with a dye,upon irradiation with the light beam B, the light beam B may strike andbe absorbed in the dye. For this reason, the light beam B and thescattered light L attenuate in the secondary resin layer 35B; thus, thedetection of the air bubbles etc. D may be difficult even when the airbubbles etc. D are formed.

To solve these problems, it is preferable that, like in this embodiment,the output wavelength of the light-emitting unit 23 corresponds tonon-visible light, particularly infrared light or ultraviolet light.This is because light of the wavelength of the infrared region easilypasses through a resin and is hardly scattered as compared with visiblelight. Measurement of the transmission spectrum for each color of aresin layer (film) showed that the transmittance was mostly low in therange of wavelength of visible light. For example, it is shown that atthe wavelength of 690 nm, the transmittance of a black resin layer is assmall as about 80%, and the transmittance of the resin layer of othercolors is about 40%, which is still smaller. In contrast, in thewavelength band (especially the wavelength band of 1000 nm or more) ofnon-visible light, especially infrared light, high transmittance wasobtained in any color. This is based on the fact that the lightscattering (Mie scattering or Rayleigh scattering) due to a pigmentbecomes inconsiderable as the wavelength increases from the pigmentparticle size. Accordingly, since the output wavelength of light emittedfrom the light-emitting unit 23 is non-visible light (especiallyinfrared light), the scattered light from the colored secondary resinlayer 35B can be reduced and the air bubbles etc. D can be accuratelydetected. Moreover, in the case of light with a very short wavelengthcalled ultraviolet light, the absorption by the dye is negligible; thus,the same advantageous effects as the above can be provided.

(Modification)

FIGS. 8 and 9 schematically show the configuration of an air bubblesensor 29 according to one modification of the above-describedembodiment. FIG. 8 shows the air bubble sensor 29 of this modificationseen along the axial direction of the optical fiber F. FIG. 9 shows theair bubble sensor 29 of this modification seen along a directionperpendicular to the axial direction of the optical fiber F.

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the air bubble sensor 29 of this modificationincludes the light-emitting units 23 and the light-receiving units 24 intwo or more pairs. As an example, FIGS. 8 and 9 show the light-emittingunits 23 and the light-receiving units 24 in three pairs. Further, asshown in FIG. 9, the air bubble sensor 29 may further include acomputing unit 30 which synthesizes the waveforms of electrical signalsfrom a plurality of light-receiving units 24.

As shown in FIG. 9, in the air bubble sensor 29, the threelight-emitting units 23 respectively emit light beams B1 to B3 towardirradiation positions P1 to P3 arranged in the axial direction of theoptical fiber F. In other words, the irradiation positions P1 to P3 ofthe optical fiber F related to the plurality of light-emitting units 23are located in different positions along the axial direction of theoptical fiber F.

As shown in FIG. 8, in the air bubble sensor 29, the threelight-emitting units 23 are located in different positions along thecircumferential direction with respect to the optical fiber F. As anexample, FIG. 8 shows a mode in which the three light-emitting units 23are arranged at equal intervals (120° intervals) in the circumferentialdirection of the optical fiber F.

In the air bubble sensor 29, the output wavelengths of at least twolight-emitting units 23 are different. Each light-receiving unit 24 hasa wavelength filter for transmitting the output wavelength of thecorresponding light-emitting unit 23 and blocking the outputwavelength(s) of the other light-emitting unit(s) 23. As an example, theoutput wavelengths of the three light-emitting units 23 are differenteach other.

The graphs of (a) portion, (b) portion and (c) portion of FIG. 10respectively show the signal waveforms which result from the air bubblesetc. and are generated in the respective light-receiving units 24 byirradiation of the respective irradiation positions P1 to P3 with thelight beams B. The graph of (d) portion of FIG. 10 shows their compositewaveform. Since, among the irradiation positions P1 to P3, theirradiation position P1 is located most upstream, when air bubbles etc.exist in the optical fiber F, a signal waveform S1 (intensity S)resulting from scattered light first appears in the electrical signal(the graph of (a) portion of FIG. 10) from the light-receiving unit 24located in the irradiation position P1. Afterwards, when the air bubblesetc. move to the irradiation position P2, a signal waveform S2(intensity S) resulting from scattered light appears in the electricalsignal (the graph of (b) portion of FIG. 10) from the light-receivingunit 24 located in the irradiation position P2. Finally, when the airbubbles etc. move to the irradiation position P3, a signal waveform S3(intensity S) resulting from scattered light appears in the electricalsignal (the graph of (c) portion of FIG. 10) from the light-receivingunit 24 located in the irradiation position P3. As described above, asignal-waveform delay based on a difference between the irradiationpositions occurs in each electrical signal. In view of the above, in thecase of the composite waveform shown in the graph of (d) portion of FIG.10, signal waveforms are synthesized after such a delay is corrected.The graph of (d) portion of FIG. 10 shows the results of synthesis madeaccording to the time of the signal waveform S3 shown in the graph of(c) portion of FIG. 10.

In correcting a delay through the computing unit 30 for synthesis of thesignal waveforms, the delay time is inversely proportional to the flowrate of the optical fiber F. Accordingly, a signal related to a rate,for example, the voltage value proportional to the rotational speed ofthe capstan or the like can be input to the computing unit 30, and thecomputing unit 30 can calculate the delay time with reference to thatsignal and synthesize

The advantageous effects obtained in this modification are as follows.The air bubble sensor 29 according to this modification includes thelight-emitting units 23 and light-receiving units 24 in a plurality ofpairs, and further includes the computing unit 30 for synthesis of thesignal waveforms of the electrical signals from a plurality of thelight-receiving units 24. In such a configuration, if air bubbles etc.are formed in the optical fiber F, the amount of incident lightresulting from the air bubbles etc. changes in the plurality oflight-receiving units 24 (see the graphs of (a) portion, (b) portion,and (c) portion of FIG. 10). Accordingly, the signal change resultingfrom the air bubbles etc. is increased by synthesizing the signalwaveforms of the electrical signals from the plurality oflight-receiving units 24 (see the graph of (d) portion of FIG. 10)(intensity 3×S). Meanwhile, a noise component (intensity N) resultingfrom the stray light and the like contained in light incident on eachlight-receiving unit 24 is contained in the electrical signal. Such anoise component, which exists at random in time, is equalized bysynthesis and exhibits the same intensity N after the synthesis.Accordingly, in this modification, the S/N ratio can be improved and airbubbles etc. can be detected more accurately.

In the air bubble sensor 29, the positions P1 to P3 which are arrangedalong the axial direction of the optical fiber F and to be irradiatedwith the light beams B from the plurality of light-emitting units 23 maybe different each other. Thus, the entry of scattered light resultingfrom any of the light beams B1 to B3 traveling from the light-emittingunits 23 to the light-receiving unit 24 not paired with thelight-emitting unit 23 (crosstalk) can be inhibited, and the signalwaveform based on air bubbles etc. can be accurately generated in eachlight-receiving unit 24.

In this air bubble sensor 29, the output wavelengths of at least twolight-emitting units 23 may be different each other, and eachlight-receiving unit 24 may have a wavelength filter for transmittingthe output wavelength of the corresponding light-emitting unit 23 andblocking the output wavelength(s) of the other light-emitting unit(s)23. Thus, the entry of scattered light or stray light resulting from anyof the light beams B1 to B3 traveling from the light-emitting units 23to the light-receiving unit 24 in a pair with a wavelength differentfrom that of the pair that the corresponding light-emitting unit 23belongs to (crosstalk) can be inhibited, and the signal waveform basedon air bubbles etc. can be accurately generated in each light-receivingunit 24.

In the air bubble sensor 29, the positions of the plurality oflight-emitting units 23 in the circumferential direction and withrespect to the optical fiber F may be different each other. When thelight beams B are emitted from a single position along thecircumferential direction, depending on the positions where air bubblesetc. are formed in a face perpendicular to the axial direction of theoptical fiber F, the light beams B may not adequately strike the airbubbles etc. and detection of the air bubbles etc. may be difficult. Incontrast, when the light beams B are emitted from a plurality ofpositions along the circumferential direction, reliable detection of airbubbles etc. can be achieved independently of the positions where theair bubbles etc. are formed in a face perpendicular to the axialdirection of the optical fiber F.

It is preferable that the number of pairs of the light-emitting unit 23and the light-receiving unit 24 be three or more. In this case, almostall the air bubbles can be detected over the perimeter of the opticalfiber F. FIG. 11A is a diagram showing the irradiation of the opticalfiber F with the light beam B in the case where one pair of thelight-emitting unit 23 and the light-receiving unit 24 is used. FIG. 11Bis a diagram showing the irradiation of the optical fiber F with thelight beams B in the case where two pairs of the light-emitting unit 23and the light-receiving unit 24 are used. FIG. 11C is a diagram showingthe irradiation of the optical fiber F with the light beams B in thecase where three pairs of the light-emitting unit 23 and thelight-receiving unit 24 are used. As shown in FIG. 11A, in the casewhere only one pair of the light-emitting unit 23 and thelight-receiving unit 24 is used, regions D1 where the optical fiber F isnot irradiated with the light beam B are produced by refraction of thelight beam B. As shown in FIG. 11B, even in the case where two pairs ofthe light-emitting unit 23 and the light-receiving unit 24 are used,although being small, regions D2 where the optical fiber F is notirradiated with a light beams B are produced. In contrast, as shown inFIG. 11C, in the case where three or more pairs of the light-emittingunit 23 and the light-receiving unit 24 are used, no region is producedwhere the optical fiber F is not irradiated with the light beams B.Accordingly, when the number of pairs of the light-emitting unit 23 andthe light-receiving unit 24 is three or more, air bubbles etc. can bedetected more reliably.

The optical fiber inspecting device and the optical fiber manufacturingapparatus according to the present invention are not limited to theabove-described embodiment, and various other modifications can be made.For instance, the above-described embodiment and modification may becombined with each other according to the intended use and effects. Inaddition, although an optical fiber in which the secondary resin layeris colored and which does not have a colored layer on the secondaryresin layer is a target to be inspected in the above-describedembodiment, the present invention is also applicable to an optical fiberhaving a colored layer on the secondary resin layer.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

1A . . . optical fiber manufacturing apparatus, 10 . . . preform, 11 . .. drawing furnace, 12 . . . forced cooling device, 13 . . . outerdiameter measuring device, 14, 15 . . . resin coating unit, 14A . . .primary resin, 15A . . . secondary resin, 16 . . . uneven thicknessmeasuring device, 17 . . . UV furnace, 18 . . . outer diameter measuringdevice, 19, 29 . . . air bubble sensor(optical fiber inspecting device),20 . . . guide roller, 21 . . . capstan, 22 . . . wind-up bobbin, 23 . .. light-emitting unit, 24 . . . light-receiving unit, 24 a . . .photosensor, 24 b . . . lens, 24 c . . . housing, 24 d . . . hood, 25 .. . amplifier circuit, 26 . . . signal-processing unit, 30 . . .computing unit, 31 . . . core, 32 . . . cladding, 33A, 33B . . . coatingresin, 34 . . . primary resin layer, 35A, 35B . . . secondary resinlayer, 36 . . . colored layer, AX . . . optical axis, B, B1 to B3 . . .light beam, D . . . air bubbles etc., F, FA . . . optical fiber, F11 . .. glass fiber, L . . . scattered light, P, P1 to P3 . . . irradiationposition.

The invention claimed is:
 1. An optical fiber inspecting devicecomprising: a first light-emitter that irradiates an optical fiber witha first light beam, the optical fiber including a glass fiber and acoating resin and moving in an axial direction; a first light-receiverthat receives scattered light resulting from the first light beamscattered in the optical fiber, and converts the scattered light to anelectrical signal; a second light-emitter that irradiates the opticalfiber with a second light beam; and a second light-receiver thatreceives scattered light resulting from the second light beam scatteredin the optical fiber, and converts the scattered light to an electricalsignal, wherein an optical axis of the first light-receiver passesthrough an irradiation position where the first light beam strikes theoptical fiber, and the first light beam and the optical axis of thefirst light-receiver diagonally intersect each other, thereby preventingthe first light beam from directly entering the first light-receiver,wherein an optical axis of the second light-receiver passes through anirradiation position where the second light beam strikes the opticalfiber, and the second light beam and the optical axis of the secondlight-receiver diagonally intersect each other, thereby preventing thesecond light beam from directly entering the second light-receiver, andwherein a position irradiated with the first light beam from the firstlight-emitter and a position irradiated with the second light beam fromthe second light-emitter are different from each other along the axialdirection of the optical fiber.
 2. The optical fiber inspecting deviceaccording to claim 1, further comprising: a third light-emitter thatirradiates the optical fiber with a third light beam; and a thirdlight-receiver that receives scattered light resulting from the thirdlight beam scattered in the optical fiber, and converts the scatteredlight to an electrical signal, wherein an optical axis of the thirdlight-receiver passes through an irradiation position where the thirdlight beam strikes the optical fiber, and the third light beam and theoptical axis of the third light-receiver diagonally intersect eachother, thereby preventing the third light beam from directly enteringthe third light-receiver, and wherein output wavelengths of the firstlight beam and the third light beam are different from each other, andeach of first light-receiver and the third light-receiver includes awavelength filter transmitting an output wavelength of the correspondinglight-emitter and blocking an output wavelength of the otherlight-emitter.
 3. The optical fiber inspecting device according to claim1, further comprising: a fourth light-emitter that irradiates theoptical fiber with a fourth light beam; and a fourth light-receiver thatreceives scattered light resulting from the fourth light beam scatteredin the optical fiber, and converts the scattered light to an electricalsignal, wherein an optical axis of the fourth light-receiver passesthrough an irradiation position where the fourth light beam strikes theoptical fiber, and the fourth light beam and the optical axis of thefourth light-receiver diagonally intersect each other, therebypreventing the fourth light beam from directly entering the fourthlight-receiver, and wherein a position of the first light-emitter and aposition of the fourth light-emitter with respect to the optical fiberalong a circumferential direction are different from each other.
 4. Theoptical fiber inspecting device according to claim 3: wherein a positionof the first light-emitter, a position of the fourth light-emitter, anda position of the second light-emitter with respect to the optical fiberalong a circumferential direction are different from each other.
 5. Theoptical fiber inspecting device according to claim 1, further comprisinga computer that synthesizes signal waveforms of the electrical signalsfrom the light-receivers.
 6. The optical fiber inspecting deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the first light beam from the firstlight-emitter is directed diagonally to the optical fiber and theoptical axis of the first light-receiver is orthogonal to the opticalfiber.
 7. The optical fiber inspecting device according to claim 1,wherein an output wavelength of light emitted from each light-emittercorresponds to non-visible light.
 8. The optical fiber inspecting deviceaccording to claim 7, wherein an output wavelength of light emitted fromeach light-emitter corresponds to infrared light or ultraviolet light.9. An optical fiber manufacturing apparatus comprising: a drawingfurnace that draws a glass fiber from a glass preform; a resin coaterthat coats the glass fiber with a primary resin and a secondary resin; aresin curer that cures the primary resin and the secondary resin; andthe optical fiber inspecting device according to claim 1, that inspectsthe optical fiber extending from the resin curer.
 10. A method forinspecting an optical fiber comprising: irradiating the optical fiberwith a first light beam by using the first light-emitter of the opticalfiber inspecting device according to claim 1, the optical fiberincluding a glass fiber and a coating resin and moving in an axialdirection; receiving scattered light resulting from the first light beamscattered in the optical fiber, and converting the received scatteredlight to an electrical signal, by using the first light-receiver of theoptical fiber inspecting device; and measuring presence of an air bubbleor an internal existing rate of an air bubble in the optical fiber bycomparing the electrical signal indicating the amount of incident lighton the first light-receiver or a rate of change in the amount of theincident light with a predetermined threshold.
 11. A method formanufacturing an optical fiber comprising: drawing a glass fiber from aglass preform; coating the glass fiber with a primary resin and asecondary resin; curing the primary resin and the secondary resin; andinspecting an optical fiber where the resins are cured and the fiber isextended, by using the optical fiber inspecting device according toclaim 1; and winding up the optical fiber.
 12. An optical fiberinspecting device comprising: a first light-emitter that irradiates anoptical fiber with a first light beam, the optical fiber including aglass fiber and a coating resin and moving in an axial direction; afirst light-receiver that receives scattered light resulting from thefirst light beam scattered in the optical fiber, and converts thescattered light to an electrical signal; a third light-emitter thatirradiates the optical fiber with a third light beam; and a thirdlight-receiver that receives scattered light resulting from the thirdlight beam scattered in the optical fiber, and converts the scatteredlight to an electrical signal, wherein an optical axis of the firstlight-receiver passes through an irradiation position where the firstlight beam strikes the optical fiber, and the first light beam and theoptical axis of the first light-receiver diagonally intersect eachother, thereby preventing the first light beam from directly enteringthe first light-receiver, wherein an optical axis of the thirdlight-receiver passes through an irradiation position where the thirdlight beam strikes the optical fiber, and the third light beam and theoptical axis of the third light-receiver diagonally intersect eachother, thereby preventing the third light beam from directly enteringthe third light-receiver, and wherein output wavelengths of the firstlight beam and the third light beam are different from each other, andeach of first light-receiver and the third light-receiver includes awavelength filter transmitting an output wavelength of the correspondinglight-emitter and blocking an output wavelength of the otherlight-emitter.
 13. An optical fiber inspecting device comprising: afirst light-emitter that irradiates an optical fiber with a first lightbeam, the optical fiber including a glass fiber and a coating resin andmoving in an axial direction; a first light-receiver that receivesscattered light resulting from the first light beam scattered in theoptical fiber, and converts the scattered light to an electrical signal;a fourth light-emitter that irradiates the optical fiber with a fourthlight beam; and a fourth light-receiver that receives scattered lightresulting from the fourth light beam scattered in the optical fiber, andconverts the scattered light to an electrical signal, wherein an opticalaxis of the first light-receiver passes through an irradiation positionwhere the first light beam strikes the optical fiber, and the firstlight beam and the optical axis of the first light-receiver diagonallyintersect each other, thereby preventing the first light beam fromdirectly entering the first light-receiver, wherein an optical axis ofthe fourth light-receiver passes through an irradiation position wherethe fourth light beam strikes the optical fiber, and the fourth lightbeam and the optical axis of the fourth light-receiver diagonallyintersect each other, thereby preventing the fourth light beam fromdirectly entering the fourth light-receiver, and wherein a position ofthe first light-emitter and a position of the fourth light-emitter withrespect to the optical fiber along a circumferential direction aredifferent from each other.